Chapter Three: Outdoor Safety

1. Chapter Three: Outdoor Safety

2. Safety Policies forOutdoor Environment • More than half of injuries in child care centers are outdoors (falls) • Child care in certain neighborhoods may be at risk for safety • Childhood injuries from motor vehicles and bicycles may be prevented with use of proper safety equipment (restraints and helmets)

3. Safety Policies for Outdoor Environment, cont. • Outdoor Child Care Environment • Playground Equipment Safety • Travel and Traffic Safety • Water Safety

4. Examining Outdoor Child Care Environments Falls Motor vehicle and other transportation accidents Poisons Equipment

5. Outdoor Environmental Hazards Barriers Poison Control Including toxic plants Pesticides, BBQ Insects Temperature

6. Other considerations Trees BBQ Away from power lines, ditches, etc. Barefoot only if safe

7. Developmental Level Infants and Toddlers Preschool children School Age

8. Space Rule of thumb = clearance 9 ft. around stationary equipment and 15 ft. around equipment with moving parts such as swings Outdoor area should provide 50 sq. ft. of space for each child When equipment figured in, usually = 75 sq. ft.

9. Daily inspection Extra caution in public multi-use facilities Shared Space

10. Time of Day Certain times of day may be more vulnerable to accidents When children are tired or hungry Midmorning and midafternoon

11. The Neighborhood No traffic, noise pollution, little risk for safety = better neighborhood Traffic, noise, risk for safety = at-risk neighborhood

12. Playground Equipment Safety Climbing Equipment, Slides, and Swings Riding Toys Sandboxes Other equipment Seesaws, trampolines, homemade equipment (wooden, etc.) Become familiar with potentially harmful areas (Fig. 3-2)

13. Traffic and Transportation Safety As pedestrians, in cars, on bikes and crashing Pedestrian Safety At child care Drop-off and pick-up plan

14. Motor Vehicle Safety The vehicle Safety seats Pretravel guidelines Travel guidelines Travel conditions Travel information sheet

15. Bicycle Safety Helmets Riding safety Other riding conditions

16. Water Hazards Children’s Behavior Around Water Water Safety Guidelines (Table 3-7) Water Safety Behaviors (Table 3-8) Water Safety

17. Observation Apply ABCs to outdoor environment Supervision Provide for checks and balances Good communication throughout child care Implications for Caregivers

18. Education Caregivers Children Parents

19. Reality Check:Sun Safety Skin cancer begins from sun exposure in childhood Protecting children from hazards of sun on hot, sunny days is important Use climate prediction center for UV forecast Follow suggestions on page 103 for keeping children sun safe

20. Reality Check:Neighborhood Violence The Continuum of Violence in Children’s Lives (see Figure 3-1) Exposure can put safety at risk Neighborhood violence permeating society

21. Children’s ability to cope Age Developmental level Availability of resources for help Ability of children to access resources

22. Caregivers can offer safe haven Monitor for safety Access resources Encourage prosocial, gentle behavior Be a person a child can trust and relate to well